Spray head



July 29, 1958 M. LEAF 2,845,305

SPRAY HEAD Filed Dec. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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' A770E/VCY July 29, 1958 M. LEAF 2,845,305

SPRAY HEAD Filed Dec. s, 1956 sfieets-S ee'; 2

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INVENTOR. /I /4/v0z. 454/- United States Patent SPRAY HEAD Manuel Leaf, New York, N. Y.

Application December 6, 1956, Serial No. 626,649

15 Claims. (Cl. 299-441) The present invention relates to a spray head, and particularly to a water spray head of the type generally used by attaching with a flexible hose to a fixture or water tap, for hair washing or rinsing, as is generally done in barber shops, beauty parlors, or similar establishments, or in the home.

Such spray heads, as heretofore used, have been relatively expensive and have generally and frequently been ineificient by reason of the fact that the water discharged through them did not come out distributed evenly and uniformly in a conical spray, as is desirable, but tended to come out in one or more solid, lazy, streams and without sufficient force to accomplish the purpose intended for it. Also, spray heads of the character described, as heretofore used, tended to leak or to become leaky after some use and handling, to thereby further reduce the force of the stream of water discharged therethrough.

The present invention is, therefore, directed to the provision of spray heads of the character described in which the several foregoing shortcomings of the spray heads of the prior art are substantially eliminated, and has for its primary object to provide a spray head that will discharge water in a conically distributed spray and with ample pressure and force to accomplish the purpose for which it is intended; to provide a spray head which is substantially leak proof; .and to provide a spray head that is formed of a minimum of parts that may be economically mass produced from relatively low cost materials, which parts may be quickly, simply and easily assembled, so that the spray head may be made and sold at relatively low price, particularly in view of its high efficiency for its purpose.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide spray heads of the character described, which are easily cleaned; which are strong, sturdy and durable; and which are of attractive appearance.

Still further objects and advantages of the spray head of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the several embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiments are shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal, sectional view of one embodiment of the spray head of the present invention taken on line 11 of Fig. 2, and as attached to a connecting hose.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the discharge end of the spray head of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of a modified embodiment of the spray head of the present invention, suitable for direct connection to the outlet end of a water outlet fixture; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of another, modified embodiment of the spray head of the present invention, capable. of being threaded on a threaded coupling.

Referring in greater detail to the illustrative embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the spray head is shown as comprising an elongated, cylindrical body 10, made of a preferably moldable, compressible material as natural or synthetic rubber or rubber substitutes. The cylinder 10 is formed with longitudinal passageway therethrough which is cylindrical at its, inner end 12 and widens towards its outer or outlet 'end, to form a frusto-conical chamber or recess 14. Preferably the chamber 14 is formed with a cylindrical extension 16.

The spray head of the present invention further cornprises an outer metallic shell generally designated as 20 in the shape of a deep cup-shaped cylinder, that is formed to fit snugly over the cylinder 10. The metallic shell 20 comprises the cylindrical wall 22 and the end wall 24 which is arranged to abut the outlet end of the cylinder 10. The metallic cylinder 22 may extend the entire length or substantially the entire length of the cylinder 10 and may be securely engaged in place thereon by forming longitudinally extending crimps 26 in its edge portion that depress into the underlying part of the body of the cylinder 10 and forming shoulders 28 that will retain the shell 20 upon the cylinder 10.

Where the cylinder 10 is provided with the cylindrical extension 16 of the frusto-conical chamber 14, the center part of the end wall 24 of the metallic shell 20 may be inwardly offset a distance equal to the height of the cylindrical portion 16 of the chamber 14.

I have found that in order to obtain a conical, spraydistribution of water through the head, there are certain critical proportions that must be approximated by the chamber 14 and a particular arrangement made of the spray openings 30 formed in the end wall 24 of the metallic shell 20.

Thus I have found that proper water dispersal and efiicient operation of the spray head may be attained by providing the cylinder 10 with a frusto-conical chamber whose altitude is substantitally three quarters of an inch, whose inner end is substantially three eighths of an inch or approximately 50% of the height of the altitude, in diameter, and whose outer end is substantially an inch and one sixteenth, or approximately 142% of the altitude, in diameter. These dimensions, of course, are variable, provided their proportions are substantially maintained. Further, the end wall 24 of the metallic shell 20 is preferably formed with two sets of discharge openings, a central set of about five relatively larger openings 30 and a peripheral set of about 16 relatively smaller openings 34. When these proportions of the frusto-conical outlet chamber 14 and the relationship of the discharge openings 32 and 34 are maintained, water discharged through the head will come out under substantial pressure, in a conically distributed spray.

The spray head of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, may be secured to a connecting hose 36, in any desired manner,

as by means of a metallic tubular coupling 38 that is formed with two sets of oppositely and inwardly pointing triangular ribs 40, are set on each of its halves. One half of such tubular coupling 36 may be inserted or forced into the cylindrical passageway 12 of the head 10, and the other half of it may be inserted or force fitted into the end of the hose 36. To further insure the securing of coupling 38 of the spray head to the connecting hose 36, a metallic shell 42 may be slipped over the portion. of the hose 36 that is fitted over the coupling 38, with the portion of the shell 42 overlying the end of the cou- 3 pling 38 being longitudinally crimped, to provide retaining shoulders, as at 44.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 which is intended for direct fitting on the end of a water discharge fixture, such as a faucet, the cylindrical body is formed with a tubular extension 46 at its inner end of greater diameter than the fixture on which it is to be fitted, within which tubular portion 46 is adhesively or otherwise welded or secured a tube 48, of highly compressible material, such as soft rubber or rubber substitutes, that will form a snug and leak proof fit with the end of the fixture over which it is fitted.

It may here be stated that for ease and simplicity of assembly the cylinder 10 is preferably formed of uniform thickness and, also, when formed of rubber or its substitutes, of substantial thickness, to provide adequately rigid wall structure, especially at the outer end.

It may here also be stated that, for ease of assembly, the coupling 38 is preferably force fitted into the cylindrical portion 12 of the passageway through the cylinder 10 before the shell is fitted and crimped thereon to avoid any distortion of the passageway portion 12 that would otherwise occur during the crimping. For the same reason a section of metallic tubing 52 may be inserted into the passageway portion 12, of the spray head embodiment of Fig. 4 of the drawings. Also, in order to prevent any distortion of the frusto-conical chamber 14 by the crimping operation, the shell 20 may be formed to extend'inwardly of the frusto-conical chamber 14 and the crimpings 26 formed in the portion thereof lying over the cylindrical passageway portion 12.

It may here be further stated that where the body 10' is formed of a rigid molded material, such as hard rubber or plastic, it may be molded with threads 60 formed within the inner end 12' of the passageway, as illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 5, and that the inner end of the tubular coupling 38' may be correspondingly threaded, as at 62, and its outer extension, if any, may, if desired, also be threaded, as at 64, for engaging the connecting hose 36, to thereby provide a spray head of even simpler construction and easier method of assembly and cleaning.

This completes the description of the spray head of the present invention and the manner of its assembly. It will be apparent that such spray head is formed of a minimum of relatively cheap and cheaply produced parts, one of which, the cylinder 10, is moldable, that may be quickly and easily assembled; that it is substantially leak proof when assembled and that it will discharge water in an evenly distributed, forceful, conical spray, for the efficient rinsing of any object against which the spray is directed. It will also be apparent that the spray head of the present invention may be easily and readily cleaned, as the relatively larger central openings will not readily clog and when the smaller peripheral openings do become clogged, they may be easily cleaned out by the use of a pin. And the dislodged broken up clogging material then flushed out through the larger central openings. It will be additionally apparent that the spray head of the present invention is of relatively sturdy and durable construction and least likely to become leaky or otherwise be damaged during use.

It will be further apparentthat numerous modifications and variations in the spray head of the present invention may be made by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modifications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A spray head comprising a body of substantially uniform transverse section having a passageway formed longitudinally therethrough, said passageway having a cylindrical inner end portion and a widening outer portion continuous with said inner portion and forming a frusto-conical outer chamber, and a shell, including a tubular portion adapted to extend a substantial portion of the length of said body and an end wall, said shell fitted snugly over the outer face of said body with said end wall disposed against the outer end face thereof, said end wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein overlying said chamber, and means interengaging the inner end portion of said shell with said body.

2. The spray head of claim 1 wherein said apertures in said end wall comprise a group of relatively larger openings in the center thereof and a group of relatively smaller openings circularly arranged in spaced relation to said group of central openings.

3. The spray head of claim 1 wherein said frustoconical chamber is formed with an inner opening of a diameter approximately half the altitude of said chamber, and an outer opening of a diameter approximately one and four-tenths times the altitude of said chamber.

4. The spray head of claim 1 wherein said passageway is formed with a relatively shallow cylindrical portion at the outer end of said frusto-conical chamber and wherein said end wall has the portion thereof overlying said shallow cylindrical passageway portion inwardly offset thereinto substantially to the outer end of said chamber.

5. A spray head comprising a body of moldable compressible material and of substantially uniform transverse cross section, said body having a passageway formed longitudinally therethrough, said passageway including a cylindrical inner end portion and a frusto-conical chamber widening outwardly from said cylindrical portion, and a metallic shell including a tubular portion and an end wall portion, said shell fitted over said body with its tubular portion snugly engaging said body along a substantial part thereof and its end wall disposed against the outer end wall of said body, said shell end wall having a plurality of outlet openings formed therein overlying said chamber, and means securing said shell on said body.

6. The spray head of claim 5, wherein said chamber has its inner opening of a diameter equal substantially half the altitude thereof and an outer opening equal substantially one and four tenths the altitude thereof.

7. The spray head of claim 5, wherein said chamber is formed with a relatively shallow cylindrical outer extension and wherein said end wall of said shell is inwardly oifset into said cylindrical extension to substantially the end of said chamber.

8. A spray hea-d comprising a substantially cylindrical body' of moldable and compressible material and of substantially uniform cross section, said body having a passageway formed longitudinally therethrough, said passageway including a cylindrical inner end portion and an outer end portion widening therefrom to form a frustoconical chamber, a metallic tube engaged within said cylindrical passageway portion, and a metallic shell, including a cylindrical portion and an end wall portion, fitted snugly over said cylindrical body with its end wall portion against the outer end face of said body and its cylindrical portion extending over and crimped to the portion of said body overlying said cylindrical passageway, said end wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein overlying said chamber.

9. The spray head of claim 8, wherein said chamber has an inner end of a diameter substantially half the altitude of the chamber and an outer end of a diameter substantially one and four tenths of the altitude of said chamber.

10. The spray head of claim 8, wherein said chamber is formed with a relatively shallow cylindrical outer extension and wherein the portion of said end wall overlying said extension is offset thereinto.

11. The spray head of claim 8, wherein said openings in said end wall of said shell comprising a relatively small group of relatively larger openings formed in the center thereof and relatively larger group of relatively smaller openings circularly arranged in spaced relation to said central group.

12. The sprayhead of claim 8, wherein said metallic tube extends outwardly of said body and a connecting tube is gripped upon said extension of said metallic tube.

13. The spray head of claim 8, wherein said cylindrical body is formed with an integral sleeve extending from the marginal edge portions ofits inner end face and a tubular, resilient washer is secured on the inner face of said sleeve.

14. The spray head of claim 8, wherein said tube is formed with gripping projections on its outer surface.

15. A spray head, comprising a substantially cylindrieal body of moldable material and having a passageway formed longitudinally therethrough, said passageway including a cylindrical, threaded inner end portion and an outer end portion widening therefrom to form a frusto-conical chamber, a metallic tube having externally threaded portion engaged by said threaded portion into said threaded passageway portion, and a metallic shell including a cylindrical portion and an end wall portion, fitted snugly over a substantial part of the length of said cylindrical body and engaged thereon with its end Wall portion against the outer end face of said body, said end wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein overlying said chamber.

No references cited. 

